Rotary depository



Feb. 1, 1955 c. L. ROBERTS ROTARY DEPOSITORY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1951 .RN! ll I N V EN TOR. CECIL L. ROBERTS BY Ays.

Feb. 1, 1955 c. 1.. ROBERTS 2,701,093

ROTARY DEPOSITORY Filed March 5. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 8 INVENTOR. CECIL L. ROBERTS Feb. 1, 1955 c. L. ROBERTS 2,701,093

ROTARY DEPOSITORY Filed March 5, 195 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 C501. L. ROBERTS United States Patent ROTARY DEPOSIT ORY Cecil L. Roberts, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Mosler Safe Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation of New York Application March 5, 1951, Serial No. 213,955

7 Claims. (Cl. 232-44) This invention relates to depositories of the type employed by banks and business establishments, by means of which, money, for example, can be depos ted n a safe located in a protected position without having direct access to it.

An object of this invention is to prov1de a depository that is so arranged and constructed that access to the interior of the safe via the depository can not be had regardless of whether the depository is open or closed.

Another object of the invention is to prov1de a depository for safes, that is so constructed and arranged that access from without the depository to the passageway from the depository into the safe is closed by the depository at all times; the interior of the depository being 1n communication with said passageway only when the depository is in closed position and turned to a predetermined position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a depository adapted for mounting on the top of a safe or in a wall having a passageway that communicates with a safe located in a protected position, the depository comprising a housing having a cylinder mounted for rotary and sliding movement in a wall thereof, the cyllnder being provided with a side opening, and the cylinder and housing with co-operating means whereby the cyllnder is locked against sliding movement from closed to open position, unless the cylinder is first rotated to a pos1t1on in which the passageway leading to the safe is closed thereby.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, In which:

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation, partly in section, of a depository embodying a form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken on line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial view in section taken on line III-III of Fig. l; n

Fig. 4 is a partial view in vertical longitudinal section of the depository housing, the cylinder belng removed; and

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section of the rear end of the depository showing a modified form of bearing for the depository cylinder.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings a depository 1 is shown embodying what now appears to be a preferred form of the invention. The depository is adapted for mounting upon the top of a safe only partially shown at 2, having an opening 3 in the top wall thereof through which deposits of money or other things of value may be dlscharged from the depository into the safe. The depository may also be mounted in a wall of a bank or other business establishment and arranged to communicate with a passageway leading to a safe located in a protected position within the bank or establishment.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the depository has front and rear walls 4 and 5, side walls 6 and 7, and a roof or top wall 8, made of metal alloys suitable for the purpose. The bottom of the housing is open so-that when mounted on the top of a safe, for example, it seats over the passageway 3 leading to the interior of a safe. The bottom of the front, rear and side walls of the housing may be welded. as indicated, to the top of the structure 2 so that it will be rigidly and firmly united or secured thereto.

As shown in the drawings, the front wall of the housing is provided with an opening 9, preferably circular in form, through which a cylinder 11 may be moved into or out of the housing for the purpose of placing through an opening in the side of the cylinder, money, receipts, or other articles within the cylinder and depositing them in the safe.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the cylinder is supported at its outer and inner ends by the housing on bearings 13 and 14, whereby the cylinder may be rotated about its major axis-that is, its longitudinal axis-and also be moved along the major :axis into or out of the housing.

The bearing at the forward end of the cylinder comprises balls 16 and 17 mounted in spherical sockets formed in support members or cages 18 and 19, respectively. The cages 18 and 19 are disposed one on each side of a vertical plane passing through the major axis of the cylinder 11. Between the balls 16 and 17 and the spherical surface of the sockets, a plurality of small ball bearings 20 are disposed whereby the balls 16 and 17 are free to turn about any axis through the center thereof.

The bearing 14 at the rear of the cylinder 11 comprises a transverse member or bar 21 having wheels or rollers 22, journalled on the opposite ends thereof, the wheels being supported by and running in trackways 23 and 24 at the sides of the housing. Preferably, the trackways 23 and 24 extend the full length of the housing side wal s.

Depending from the transverse bar 21 is a carriage plate 25 having therein a bearing 26 such as a ball hearing, for example, which is secured to the carriage plate by means of cap screws, as shown. A stub shaft 27 is secured to the rear end of the cylinder and is supported by and journaled in bearing 26. By means of bearings 13 and 14, cylinder 11 may be rotated about its longitudinal or major axis. It also may be moved lengthwise of its major axis on the trackways 23 and 24 at the rear end and on the bearing 13 at the forward end.

When the opening 12 is on the underside of the cylinder, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, anything which has been placed in the cylinder will fall out of it by gravity through the opening 3 into the safe. When the cylinder is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the solid front wall of the cylinder together with the housing walls of the depository completely close off access to the passageway 3, so that fishing tools or other implements can not be placed or inserted from without the depository through the forward end of the cylinder.

In order that access to the opening 3 may be precluded when the cylinder is moved outwardly through the opening 9 in the front wall of the housing, means are provided which prevent movement of the cylinder 11 along its longitudinal axis either into or out of the housing unless the cylinder is first rotated (while in closed position) to a predetermined position. In such position opening 12 is on the side of the cylinder, that is, in a position where it is partly Within the first and fourth quadrants thereof, or mostly in the first quadrant thereof. The quadrants referred to are indicated in Fig. 1 by reference characters 3033 inclusive.

The forward end of cylinder 11 is closed by a relatively thick plate 34. Inwardly of plate 34 is a plate 35 that extends transversely of the cylinder at the forward end of the opening 12. Plate 35 is secured to the forward plate by clips 36 and angles 37. As shown, plate 35 is spaced from the plate 34 to provide room for a lock mechanism 38. Lock mechanism 38 may be a combination lock as illustrated, or any other type of lock. To the outer face of plate 34 is secured a plate 39 which is larger in diameter than the opening 9 in the front wall of the housing. On the front face of plate 39 is a dial plate 40 secured to plate 39 and an index plate 40 secured to a spindle 41 that extends through the plate 34 into lock mechanism 38. The knob 42 on the spindle may be provided with a key lock whereby the dial may be locked to the front wall of the cylinder, thereby precluding unauthorized persons from actuating the combination of the lock.

The inner end of the cylinder is closed by a plate 47 to which a stop member or plate 48 is secured by means of bolts 49. When the cylinder is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the stop member 48 is seated in grooves 50 and 51 formed in the members 56 and 57 in which the trackways 23 and 24 are embodied, thereby precluding longitudinal movement of the cylinder 11 when 1t is in a position where the side opening 12 is on the underside thereof.

Inwardly of plate 47 is a plate 52 that extends transversely of the cylinder at a point adjacent the inner end of the side opening 12. The plate 52 is secured to the end plate 47 by means of clips 53 and angles 54, as shown, or in any other suitable manner.

In order to bias cylinder 11 in a direction wherein the side opening 12 will be on the under side thereof, the spaces between plates 34 and 35, and 47 and 52, are filled with a quantity of heavy metal, such as lead 55. The quantity of lead is such as to form a segment of a cylinder at each end of the side opening 12 thereby tending to rotate the cylinder to the position where the side opening 12 will be on the bottom.

As may be seen in Figs. 1 and 4, the side walls 6 and 7 have secured thereto at the upper portions thereof, members 56 and 57 in which the trackways 23 and 24 are formed. The faces of the members 56 and 57 below the trackways are cut away to provide room for rotation of the cylinder between them. Adjacent the trackways 23 and 24 and adjacent the lower edges of members 56 and 57 are parallel surfaces 60 and 61, and 62 and 63, which co-operate with the stop member 48, as will be described infra.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the stop member 48 is generally circular, but is provided with flat surfaces 66 and 67 on diagonally opposite sides. These surfaces or flats 66 and 67 are so positioned relative to the opening 12 in the cylinder, that the cylinder must be rotated through such an angle that the flats 66 and 67 will be parallel to the flat surfaces 60, 62, and 61, 63. When in such position, the arc portions of plate 48 are disengaged from slots 50 and 51 whereby the cylinder may be moved outwardly of the housing along its major or longitudinal axis. When the cylinder is in such position, the flats 66 and 67 have only slight clearance with surfaces 6061 and 6263, therefore, rotation of the cylinder is precluded at all times when it is in a position where stop plate 48 is out of register with grooves 50 and 51.

When the cylinder is pulled outwardly it is limited in its outward movement by a stop 69, but the outward movement is sufficient to permit the placing of money or other articles in the cylinder through the side opening 12. The cylinder can not be turned to the position where the side opening is on the bottom until it first has been moved inwardly to the position where plate 48 registers with slots 50 and 51.

By the arrangement above described, access can not be had to the space within housing 1 below the cylinder 11 when the cylinder is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or when it has been pulled outwardly to open position.

The sectional view in Fig. 3 illustrates the lock mechanism 38 carried by the front end of the cylinder. As shown, the lock mechanism has a hook bolt 70 that registers in a slot in a main bolt 71. The inner end of the main bolt 71 is hollow and houses a plunger 72 that is normally urged outwardly by a compression spring 73, whereby the outer end of the plunger engages the hook of bolt 70. If an unauthorized person attempts to unlock cylinder 11 as by forcibly driving the lock mechanism 38 off the inner face of plate 34, the hook of bolt 70 will be disengaged from the main bolt 71. When so disengaged, plunger 72 is forced outwardly by spring 73 until it abuts a stop 74, whereby bolt 71 is retained in the keeper 75 of the lock and turning of the cylinder is prevented.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the auxiliary lock 77 is provided in the lower part of the front wall 5. This lock may be of the key-actuated type and includes a hook bolt 78. The hook of the bolt is normally engaged in slot 79 of a bolt 80 that is mounted for vertical move ment in the front wall 4 into or out of a keeper 81. in the front end of the cylinder. Bolt 80 is urged or biased upwardly by means of a compression spring 82 which is seated in a socket 83 and bears against a shoulder 84 on the bolt 80. If an unauthorized person attempts to forcibly remove lock mechanism 77, the hook of bolt 78 becomes disengaged from bolt 80 whereby spring 82 actuates the bolt into the keeper 81. The extent of upward travel of the bolt is such that the lower end thereof will come to rest within socket 83. In that event, cylinder 11 can neither be turned nor moved lengthwise of its longitudinal axis.

In practice, some authorized person will have a key for lock 77, and those persons who were entrusted with the depositing of money or other valuables in cylinder 11 will be entrusted with a key for the lock 42, so that the combination of lock mechanism 38 can be operated as and when required.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings a modified form of bearing for the rear end of cylinder 11 is shown. As there illustrated, a bearing 85 is mounted in an opening in the rear wall 5 of the housing through which an elongated shaft 86 extends and is journaled. The inner end of the shaft is secured to plate 48 of the cylinder. Thus, when the cylinder 11 is moved into or out of the housing, the shaft 86 slides in bearing 85. It therefore provides for rotational motion of the cylinder as well as longitudinal movement thereof. If desired, the outer end of the shaft may be housed in a closed ended sleeve 87 secured to the outer face of wall 5.

Having thus described the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art, that various modifications and changes may be made in the details of construction of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, without departing from either the spirit or the scope thereof.

Therefore, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A depository adapted for mounting over a receptacle having an opening through which an object may fall from the depository into the receptacle, said depository comprising a housing having a discharge opening communicating with the receptacle opening, one wall of said housing being configurated to form an opening, a hollow cylinder extending through the opening in said wall, first bearing means within said housing for supporting the innermost end of said cylinder for rotational movement about and longitudinal movement along the cylinder axis, second bearing means disposed forwardly of said first bearing means for supporting the cylinder for rotational and axial movement relative to the cylinder axis, said cylinder having a side opening in a wall thereof through which an object may be placed within the cylinder, an abutment disposed within said housing, a stop carried by said cylinder and disposed for cooperative engagement with said abutment when the cylinder is in a position in which the side opening therein is in registry with the receptacle opening, whereby said abutment is effective to prevent outward movement of said cylinder, said stop being disengaged from said abutment when the cylinder is rotated to a position in which the side opening is remote from said receptacle opening to permit axial movement of the cylinder, means for restraining the cylinder against rotation except in the innermost position of said cylinder, and means effective when the cylinder is in its innermost position to urge it rotatably so that the side opening is disposed in registry with the receptacle opening.

2. A depository adapted for mounting over a receptacle having an opening through which an object may fall from the depository by gravity into the receptacle, said depository comprising a housing having a discharge opening communicating with the receptacle opening, one wall of said housing being configurated to form an opening, a hollow cylinder extending through the opening in said wall, means associated with said housing for supporting said cylinder for rotational movement about and longitudinal movement along the cylinder axis, said cylinder having an opening in a side wall thereof through which an object may be placed within the cylinder, an abutment disposed within said housing, a stop mounted on said cylinder disposed for cooperative engagement with said abutment when the cylinder is in a position in which the side opening therein is in registry with the receptacle opening, whereby said abutment is effective to prevent outward movement of said cylinder, said stop being disengaged from said abutment when the cylinder is rotated to a position in which the side opening is remote from said receptacle opening to permit axial movement of the cylinder, means for restraining the cylinder against rotation except in the innermost position of said cylinder, said means including a member extending axially of said cylinder within the portion of said housing disposed forwardly of said abutment member, and means effective when the cylinder is in its innermost position to urge it rotatably so that the side opening is disposed in registry with the receptacle openmg.

3. A depository adapted for mounting over a receptacle having an opening through which an object may fall from the depository into the receptacle, said depository comprising a housing having a discharge opening communicating with the receptacle opening, one wall of said housing being configurated to form an opening, a hollow cylinder extending through the opening in said wall, first bearing means within said housing for supporting the innermost end of said cylinder for rotational movement about and longitudinal movement along the cylinder axis, second bearing means disposed forwardly of said first bearing means for supporting the cylinder for rotational and axial movements relative to the cylinder axis, said cylinder having a side opening in a wall thereof through which an object may be placed within the cylinder, a stop member carried by said cylinder, said stop member having fiat parallel surfaces disposed on opposite sides of the cylinder and arcuate segments that are concentric with the axis of the cylinder intermediate the terminals of said flat surfaces, the radii of the arcuate segments being larger than the outside radius of the cylinder, said housing having along opposite walls thereof inwardly projecting abutments adapted to be engaged by said arcuate segments when the side opening in the cylinder is in registry with the receptacle opening, whereby said abutment is eflective to prevent outward movement of said cylinder, said flat surfaces of the stop mem' ber passing between said abutments when the cylinder is rotated to a position where the side opening is displaced from said receptacle opening, the arcuate segments then being in a position to pass said abutments when the cylinder is moved to and from its closed position along the cylinder axis, and means for restraining the cylinder against rotation except when the cylinder is in its closed position.

4. A depository according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the bearing means for the inner end of said cylinder comprises a trackway on the interior of the housing, a carriage having a wheel operating in said trackway, and that the carriage and cylinder are provided with a bearing and a trunnion journaled in said bearin for supporting the inner end of the cylinder from said trackway, the axis of said journal and bearing being co-linear with the major axis of said cylinder.

5. A depository according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the innermost bearing comprises trackways on the interior of the housing disposed one on each side of a vertical plane passing through the major axis of the cylinder, a carriage having wheels operating in said trackway, and that the carriage and cylinder are provided with co-acting bearing elements, the: axes of which are co-linear with the major axis of the cylinder, whereby the cylinder may be both transported lengthwise of its major axis and rotated about the same.

6. A depository according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the bearing for the inner end of said cylinder comprises a bearing in the rear wall of said housing, and a stub shaft extending rearwardly of the cylinder through and being slidably and rotatably disposed in the said bearing, the axis of the bearing and stub shaft being co-linear with the major axis of the cylinder.

7. A depository adapted to be mounted on and secured to the top of a safe having in the top wall an opening through which objects from the depository may be discharged, said depository comprising a housing having closed top, a front wall, and side walls, said front wall having an opening therein, a cylinder extending through said opening into said housing and having at its outer end a closure member for closing said front wall opening when the cylinder is in retracted position within the housing, means at the outer and inner ends of said cylinder for rotatably and slidably supporting said cylinder, the cylinder having an opening in the wall thereof, the housing having ledges projecting inwardly of the hous ing and provided with fiat surfaces on opposite sides of the cylinder that are substantially parallel to a vertical plane containing the major axis of the cylinder, the location of such ledges being such that the cylinder is rotatable between them, slots in said ledge members, a stop member on the inner end of said cylinder disposed to engage said slots to restrain the movement of the cylinder from its retracted to its extended position while the cylinder is in a position in which the opening in its side wall is on the underside of the cylinder, said stop member having fiat surfaces on diametrically opposite sides of the cylinder disposed to pass between the fiat surfaces on said ledges after the cylinder has been rotated while retracted to a position where the opening in its side wall is in article receiving position on one side of a vertical plane containing the major axis of the cylinder, whereby the cylinder can be moved longitudinally of its major axis to or from extended or retracted positions only when the cylinder is in a position where the opening in the wall thereof is in said article receiving position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,759,129 McClintock May 20, 1930 1,771,332 Johnston July 22, 1930 1,838,581 Sieberg Dec. 29, 1931 1,851,546 Sieberg Mar. 29, 1932 1,961,250 Scheeler June 5, 1934 2,039,018 Miller Apr. 28, 1936 

